PETERSFIELD Town are looking to get 2017 off to a winning start and take the first step in kicking-off a great escape from relegation.
The Rams have gone into the new year sitting on the bottom of the Division 1 Central table and they get back to action after a break over the festive period against Fleet Town at Love Lane this afternoon (kick-off 3pm).
Petersfield are currently 13 points behind third from bottom Aylesbury and they haven’t played any Southern League matches since their 6-0 home thrashing by Beaconsfield SYCOB on December 17.
They have 18 matches remaining so while they still have some time on their side to turn the situation around, manager John Robson knows his side needs to start picking up victories as soon as possible to boost the current measly total of just eight points his side have accrued from 24 league matches so far this season.
Plans to maintain a winning run of form in the weeks ahead have received a double blow. The Football Association threw out the club’s appeal against Nick Awford’s red card against Beaconsfield SYCOB, despite submitting video evidence which appeared to show the Rams’ midfielder had not done anything wrong.
As this was Awford’s second red card in as many matches – he was dismissed in the previous game against Histon - he now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines later this month due to suspension.
The Beaconsfield game also brought another blow when new striker Zach Nicholson-Pibworth dislocated his shoulder and now the club has learnt he will require surgery on the injury.
He is likely to be out for at least two months and his recovery prognosis suggests he will not be available for selection again until the second half of February at the earliest.
Goalkeeper Jamie Bray has completed a move to Wessex Premier Division side Sholing so Robson has plenty to mull over in terms of team selection going into the north Hampshire derby clash with Fleet.
The visitors – who are currently in 17th place in the table and are 20 points better off than Petersfield – were rocked by the news that their chairman Steve Cantle died from a heart attack on December 23.
This will be their first match since that news broke as their Boxing Day derby against Farnborough was postponed as a mark of respect.